Rhode Island

The fourth quarter report on housing sales in Rhode Island during 2012 is filled with good news. The report issued by the Rhode Island Association of Realtors says that median prices for single-family homes, multi-family home and condominiums all increased. In addition foreclosures and short sales dropped for all three categories.

In the single-family home market the Association reports sales activity went up by 25 percent and the median price increased five-percent to 195-thousand-dollars. The market between buyers and sellers was evenly matched.

Former Boston Mayor and Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn was the keynote speaker at a Statehouse event marking the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

Flynn was a guest of Rhode Island Right to Life which stages a protest every year on the anniversary of the controversial ruling. He told about 200 people assembled that they should take pride in the work they do.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) The Rhode Island State Senate is holding a hearing Tuesday afternoon on School Safety in the state. In attendance will be state public safety and emergency preparedness officials along with Education Commissioner Deborah Gist.

This hearing follows the fatal shooting at the Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown Connecticut last month. 26 students and staff were killed at the school. In addition the gunman killed his mother and himself.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) The President rolled out a plan last week to curb gun violence, and Electric Boat announced more jobs are on the way for its facility in Quonset. These are just a few topics Rhode Island Public Radio’s Scott MacKay touched on when he sat down with Senator Jack Reed.

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(PROVIDENCE, RI) The Fleet Library at the Rhode Island School of Design is listed on "The 50 Most Amazing University Libraries in the World." The list was compiled based on unique, beautiful or intriguing architecture as judged by BestMastersPrograms.org.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Governor Lincoln Chafee says the latest jobless data shows Rhode Island’s economy is on the mend. But the unemployment rate is still in double digits and still the highest in New England.

Rhode Island’s unemployment rate went from 10.4 percent in November to 10.2 percent in December. But that’s not why the Governor called the news media to his office to trumpet the data. He’s energized by five key metrics used to calculate the jobless figure – all of which are moving in the right direction for only the second time in six years.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Gov. Lincoln Chafee gives his annual state-of-the-state speech Wednesday before a joint meeting of the General Assembly. The governor is expected to discuss the state’s stalled economy in his remarks.

Rhode Island Public Radio is airing the State of the Speech live along with analysis from the political team. Coverage starts at 7 p.m.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) There are many delayed openings for local schools this morning. And there is no school for Foster-Glocester. For a complete list click here.

Prepare for a slippery, snowy commute this morning according to National Weather Service meteorologist Stephanie Dunten. She says the amount of snow will vary through-out the state. She expects the Providence area will get two-to-four inches of snow.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) A report examining why Rhode Island’s business climate ranks poorly in national surveys is slated to be released Tuesday.

Rhode Island has repeatedly placed near the bottom in some national surveys on the business friendliness of different states. The new study – entitled “Moving the Needle” – was produced by the state Senate and the business-backed Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) The US Supreme Court has decided not to hear the custody case of accused killer Jason Pleau. Pleau had been fighting a transfer from Rhode Island’s prison system to federal custody to stand trial for murder.

Stanford law professor Jeffrey Fisher worked with Pleau’s legal team. Fisher is disappointed with the Supreme Court decision.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) The number of high school graduates is declining at a higher rate in Rhode Island than in the nation as a whole. That’s the conclusion of a report released by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Rhode Island joins 4 other states and the District of Columbia in having projected losses of 15-percent or more in the number of high school graduates in the school years of 2008/2009 through 2019/2020.

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Attorneys for accused killer Jason Pleau are hopeful that Friday is the day they will hear that the US Supreme Court will take their case. Pleau is the subject of a debate as to whether Rhode Island has the right to refuse to hand him over to federal authorities. The legal wrangling centers on an agreement between states and the federal government when it comes to transporting detainees.